DIVE QUALIFICATION NEEDED

Best time of year: April through October or until the Cape Fur Seals start to pup. Please note: we do not do “breaching” trips out of Gansbaai, as we have found this to be unreliable. The only “breaching Great White’s we offer are out of Simon’s Town.

Please note, the Great White Sharks have not read this timetable and have no idea where they are meant to be and when!

Suggested itinerary:

You will be contacted by phone / e-mail / SMS A at your hotel / B&B on the afternoon / evening before your scheduled Great White expedition to advise you of the pick-up time from your hotel / B&B the following morning, and to give you the expected weather conditions. Please check for messages with the front desk / receptionist.

On the morning of your cage dive you will be collected from your hotel, at a time as advised the previous afternoon, normally at between 05h30 & 06h00 for the 2 hour road transfer to Gansbaai. This applies only to divers staying in Cape Town and travelling to Gansbaai for the Great White cage dive. On arrival at the dive site at about 08h00 you will have a light breakfast before signing the necessary indemnity forms and attending the pre-dive briefing. You will then transfer to the launch site where you will board the dive boat for about 3-4 hours at sea, cage diving with, or surface viewing the Great White Shark, weather permitting. On return to the Dive Shop you will have a light lunch before viewing the video which is taken by the on-board videographer. After the day’s activity is complete, at about noon, you will be transferred back to your hotel / B&B in Cape Town to arrive there by 15h00 / 16h00.

Also…... you’ve come this far to dive. Why not take advantage of being in Africa and spend 3 days on safari in the world famous Kruger National Park. We have a 2 night / 3 day safari special for all divers travelling with “Dive The Big 5”.

Cancellation policy:

Full refund in the event of the dive being cancelled due to bad weather.

Should the weather forecast be favourable when you depart Cape Town, and on arrival at the dive site in Gansbaai, the dive is cancelled due to the weather you will receive a full refund on the cost of the dive, but you will be liable for the transfer fee.

Should we launch the boat for the dive and during the course of the dive the skipper decides to return to shore due to unfavourable weather conditions, there will be no refund.

The skipper’s decision is final and is based purely on your safety and comfort.

Please note: The Great White Shark activity takes place on or just below sea level. Full scuba gear is not required for Great White Shark cage diving, as the 6 man cage is attached to the side of the boat and no diving certification or experience is necessary. Your head and shoulders are above sea level until the dive master gives the call to let you know that the Great Whites are approaching. You then submerge your head and shoulders below sea level for the close sightings of the Great Whites, as they swim towards and past the cage. A diver spends about 20 / 30 minutes in the cage at any one time. After all the divers have had a chance in the cage, those wishing to have a 2nd go in the cage are more than welcome, time permitting. Snorkel equipment and the “breath hold” method are the most popular options, as experience has shown the sounds and bubbles from the regulator are found to be distracting to the extremely sound sensitive Great Whites. Should a diver want to use air and a regulator, he / she must be a certified diver, and must advise us in advance, as this is not carried on board. When you are not in our 6 man cage, refreshments are enjoyed while viewing the Great Whites and other sea life from the viewing deck.

Itinerary and prices are subject to change without notice.

Other “bits & pieces” of interest:

The cage is a 6-man / woman / person, cage, subject to change, and groups of divers spend roughly 20 / 30 minutes in the cage during their 1st “dive” session, thereafter they take it in turns for subsequent turns in the cage. Exact times spent in the cage differ from day to day, depending on the number of divers on the boat, and obviously shark activity. No point being in the cage when there are no sharks about! The number of divers, surface viewers is limited to 20, excluding researchers and crew, which allows each diver more cage time and a personalised on-board experience. The boat is licensed to carry 36 people maximum. When you are not in the cage, on-board refreshments can be enjoyed whilst viewing the Great Whites and other sea-life from the upper sun-deck.